p.1 #1 · Experiences with the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8?
I've read several online reviews of the Tamron 35-150mm f2/2.8, and most of them are positive. The focal length, wide aperture and weather resistance of this lens seem to be exactly what I need. However, I'd like to hear from real people who have actually used this lens (as opposed to online bloggers who most likely get paid to say wonderful things about photography equipment).
I currently own a few Tamron lenses (17-28mm f2.8, 20-40mm f2.8, 28-200mm f2.8/5.6), and I absolutely love them! However, I have also owned (but subsequently sold) Tamron lenses that weren't as great as online reviewers painted them to be (28-75mm f2.8 G2, 24mm f2.8 prime, both showed heavy vignetting up to f5.6). Also, my current 20-40mm f2.8 doesn't render colors as great as my first 20-40mm f2.8 that I regret having sold some time ago.
My reason for wanting this lens is because the larger aperture would work better for low light captures and shallower depth of field for subject isolation/blurred backgrounds compared to my current 28-200mm. The 35-150mm f2/2.8 would pair well with my 17-28mm f2.8 for use in evening street shot captures where low light prevails. Again, my 28-200 works very well in daylight, but f5.6 at the long end is not ideal for low light capture.
I am well aware that this is a heavy lens. I'd like to hear from folks who have actually used this lens. How well does the AF tracking work? Does it show vignetting wide open? If so, at what aperture does the vignetting go away? Is it sharp wide open? How's the weather sealing?
Before I "take the plunge" and buy the 35-150mm f2/2.8, I'd like to hear from those of you who actually used this lens.
p.s. I shoot stills only, no video whatsoever on my A7iv or A7c. My plan is to use it for travel. And, I can't afford the Sony 50-150 f2, so that is not an option. I don't mind the variable aperture of f2/2.8, as I would shoot it at f2.8 most of the time if I could.
p.1 #2 · Experiences with the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8?
It's a really nice lens. I found it to be sharp wide open. As for the AF, it is not as good as a native Sony lens and in low light situations, it can have problems. The AF is accurate, it just sometimes is not super fast if the light is low. That said, I would not let that impede your decision. It's a terrific lens and don't see any reason why you would not be happy with it if you go in with the knowing that the AF is not quite as good as with Sony's lenses.
p.1 #3 · Experiences with the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8?
Abuttolph wrote:
It's a really nice lens. I found it to be sharp wide open. As for the AF, it is not as good as a native Sony lens and in low light situations, it can have problems. The AF is accurate, it just sometimes is not super fast if the light is low. That said, I would not let that impede your decision. It's a terrific lens and don't see any reason why you would not be happy with it if you go in with the knowing that the AF is not quite as good as with Sony's lenses.
Thank you! How about the vignetting? Is there visible vignetting at wide apertures? I had a major vignetting issue with my Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 G2 and ended up selling it because of that.
p.1 #5 · Experiences with the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8?
It does vignette. I don't have the lens any more so I can't give you details but I remember times when I wasn't happy with lightroom's correction profile. In some circumstances I found it over corrected the vignette. I don't mind vignette, it usually doesn't bother me in most of what I shoot so I don't tend to notice it unless it is severe.
I did find that it tracked action quite well. I shot a few off road motorcycle events with it and the hit rate was excellent even in shady sections of trail early in the morning. Subject speeds up to 45mph or so. The only complaint I had with it was it is heavier in the hand than I like.
p.1 #6 · Experiences with the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8?
TimCC wrote:
It does vignette. I don't have the lens any more so I can't give you details but I remember times when I wasn't happy with lightroom's correction profile. In some circumstances I found it over corrected the vignette. I don't mind vignette, it usually doesn't bother me in most of what I shoot so I don't tend to notice it unless it is severe.
I did find that it tracked action quite well. I shot a few off road motorcycle events with it and the hit rate was excellent even in shady sections of trail early in the morning. Subject speeds up to 45mph or so. The only complaint I had with it was it is heavier in the hand than I like. ...Show more →
p.1 #7 · Experiences with the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8?
Had one, liked it a lot but didn't love it.
They have a hard time with flare and ghosting. I've also seen them become de-centered and Tamron denies warranty repairs pretty easily. I did not have great luck using it for sports (it was good but not great). The focus was not reliable enough, even tho it was very fast.
I'd rather pick up a cheaper used Samyang next time, but I'd just get something else instead. I would not travel with this lens. I'd take a 20-70.
p.1 #9 · Experiences with the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8?
I just picked one up in Japan a couple of weeks ago. It is insane that you can buy a new copy for $975 at Bic camera. Despite owning 4 GM primes and the 70-200GMii, the 20G, 200-600G and lovely Samyang, Sigma and Zony primes, Sony G glass, my most used lens is the excellent 28-200.
I never found the 28-200 slow to focus for travel photography where the fastest AF-C activity involves AF-C tracking of a pedestrian for a street shot. That said, the 35-150 does acquire focus noticeably faster. I shot some relatively faster snow monkeys coming at me in Yudanaka and had about a 50% hit rate. This combo does NOT AF at the level of the A9iii + native GM glass, nor did I expect it to.
A quick glance at the photos I shot in Japan with this lens with vignetting corrections enabled for wide open shots with C1 seems like the manufacturer's corrections work well.
The weight is noticeably heavier than the 28-200, but I will often go out with the 35GM and 28-200 and the 35-150 gets me quite close to that two lens combo with much less awkwardness.
I bought it for a single lens event shooting solution, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it as a travel lens. I did a few full day walk arounds with it in Tokyo along with some indoor shooting for the cultural events in the evenings for my recent ski tour. If you don't mind the lack of width and considerable weight, this is a fun travel lens.
p.1 #10 · Experiences with the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8?
Newenglandrocks wrote:
I just picked one up in Japan a couple of weeks ago. It is insane that you can buy a new copy for $975 at Bic camera. Despite owning 4 GM primes and the 70-200GMii, the 20G, 200-600G and lovely Samyang, Sigma and Zony primes, Sony G glass, my most used lens is the excellent 28-200.
I never found the 28-200 to be slow to focus for the travel photography that I do where the fastest AF-C activity involves AF-C tracking of a pedestrian for a street shot. That said, th 35-150 does acquire focus noticeably faster. I attemptwd to shoot some relatively faster snow monkeys coming at me in Yudanaka and had about a 50% hit rate. This combo does NOT AF at the level of the A9iii + native GM glass, nor did I expect it to.
I have taken a quick glance at the photos I shot in Japan with this lens and vignetting corrections for wide open shots with C1's corrections based on the manufacturer's profile seems look OK.
The weight is noticeably heavier than the 28-200, but I will often go out with the 35GM and 28-200 and the 35-150 gets me quite close to that two lens combo with much less awkwardness.
I bought it for a single lens event shooting solution, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it as a travel lens. I did a few full day walk arounds with it in Tokyo along with some indoor shooting for the cultural events in the evenings for my recent ski tour. If you don't mind the wide end not being wide and weight, this is a very fun travel lens. ...Show more →
p.1 #12 · Experiences with the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8?
My all time favourite event lens, wouldn't be without it and great for portraits as well. I use mine in combination with the 16-35GM on 2 bodies, covers everything.
I'm retired from paid work but here is an event late last year I covered using mostly the Tamron though some images are with the 16-35GM https://dpsampson.zenfolio.com/p964959785
p.1 #13 · Experiences with the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8?
It's great as a one lens solution for events. I paired it with the Tamron 20-40 on another body (a7cii) for travel (in a backpack) and the weight was manageable. It's heavy and bulky at first but you get used to the weight. Personally, I prefer a one body/one lens solution of a 35-150 vs a combo of 24-70/2.8 and 70-200/2.8. I haven't noticed any AF issues with low light because if I knew there would be a low light situation I'd prob bring a 1.2/1.4 prime.
p.1 #14 · Experiences with the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8?
I use this extensively, primarily for race photography - it'd definitely my moneymaker lens! I made a quick album here primarily with sports, landscape, and a little portrait. The versatility of the range simply cannot be overstated - I usually also throw in a small wide prime just in case, but otherwise this lens does it all for me. I'll list pros/cons below from my experience. For what it's worth, I still keep the 28-200mm, and use it for family/walkaround where I don't want the big 35-150mm.
Pros:
- Unbeatable focal Range,
- Excellent sharpness, great colors, nice bokeh
- Fast accurate focus
Cons:
- Contrast in backlit scenarios drops quickly (several examples in my linked album)
- On my a7rV, it looses tracking focus while zooming (this is a behavior of several tamron lenses). Interestingly, it does not do this on my a9
- Zooming (external zoom) takes more effort and balance than an internal zoom (like the 70-200GM2 that can zoom with 1 finger).
This is neither a pro or con, but one more user experience: At one race I somehow broke a thread on the lens for the hood, so the hood would not screw on. I sent it to Tamron for a repair that was returned within a week door to door, and they also calibrated the lens. It was more than I wanted it to be (perhaps $300?), but was very quick and painless.
p.1 #15 · Experiences with the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8?
jchapell wrote:
I use this extensively, primarily for race photography - it'd definitely my moneymaker lens! I made a quick album here primarily with sports, landscape, and a little portrait. The versatility of the range simply cannot be overstated - I usually also throw in a small wide prime just in case, but otherwise this lens does it all for me. I'll list pros/cons below from my experience. For what it's worth, I still keep the 28-200mm, and use it for family/walkaround where I don't want the big 35-150mm.
Pros:
- Unbeatable focal Range,
- Excellent sharpness, great colors, nice bokeh
- Fast accurate focus
Cons:
- Contrast in backlit scenarios drops quickly (several examples in my linked album)
- On my a7rV, it looses tracking focus while zooming (this is a behavior of several tamron lenses). Interestingly, it does not do this on my a9
- Zooming (external zoom) takes more effort and balance than an internal zoom (like the 70-200GM2 that can zoom with 1 finger).
This is neither a pro or con, but one more user experience: At one race I somehow broke a thread on the lens for the hood, so the hood would not screw on. I sent it to Tamron for a repair that was returned within a week door to door, and they also calibrated the lens. It was more than I wanted it to be (perhaps $300?), but was very quick and painless.
Thank you for posting the images! I noticed a bit of vignetting on the upper right hand corner of some of the images (the ones with the blue sky). Were those images shot wide open? Curious to know also at what aperture vignetting disappears.
p.1 #17 · Experiences with the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8?
Newsonys wrote:
i'm also debating, between 70-180, 35-150 tamron and 35-150 rokinon...
Same for me except for the Rokinon. I had a negative experience with a Samyang (35mm f1.8) and with a Viltrox AF 16mmf1.8, so I'm not taking any more chances with them.
p.1 #18 · Experiences with the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8?
I do typically add some vignetting in post, but also for the period of about a year that the hood thread was broken, I used an inexpensive screw on hood - which vignetted under about 40mm. I'm guessing that's some of what you are seeing if it is on one side of the sky (i.e. i probably cropped it somewhat). If there is one in particular I can look a little deeper as well.
p.1 #19 · Experiences with the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8?
jchapell wrote:
I do typically add some vignetting in post, but also for the period of about a year that the hood thread was broken, I used an inexpensive screw on hood - which vignetted under about 40mm. I'm guessing that's some of what you are seeing if it is on one side of the sky (i.e. i probably cropped it somewhat). If there is one in particular I can look a little deeper as well.
Could've been the hood like you mentioned. The ones were I noticed some vignetting were images:
2 - upper right corner
4 _ upper right corner
10 - upper right corner
11 - both top corners
14 - upper right corner
15 - both top corners
18 - upper left corner
22 - upper right corner
42 - upper right corner
